Schiano Takes Issue With Line-Shift Penalty

ampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano yells at officials, including head linesman Ed Camp (134) and referee Jerome Boger (23) after a penalty during the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Saints.

Published: Monday, October 22, 2012 at 10:23 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, October 22, 2012 at 10:23 p.m.

TAMPA | A pivotal penalty was correctly called against the Tampa Bay Bucs in the team's 35-28 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Early in the fourth quarter and leading 28-21, the Saints lined up for what would have been a 51-yard field goal. The entire Tampa Bay defensive front shifted right before the snap, and flags from the officials soon flew. The Bucs were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and assessed a 15-yard penalty. New Orleans eventually went on to score what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown on that drive.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano on Monday appeared unsure why the penalty was called.

"You can add me to the list," Schiano said when he was told fans did not know why the team was flagged. "Quite frankly, it's a legal play. We've done it before. We did it in the Washington game right before the half. One time, we went left to right, the other time we went right to left. I'm not quite sure."

Against Washington, the first game back for the regular officials, the Bucs were not penalized for the play.

NFL spokesman Jon Zimmer told the Tampa Bay Times it wasn't the shift that the team was penalized for.

"Tampa Bay was penalized yesterday for unsportsmanlike conduct for using disconcerting signals, defined as ‘words designed to disconcert an offensive team at the snap,' in Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 of the NFL rule book," Zimmer told The Times.

Replays show middle linebacker Mason Foster's head move as if he was yelling something and the Bucs shifted immediately after the command.

This isn't the first time the first-year NFL coach has attempted a play that caused some controversy.

In Week 2, as the New York Giants were lining up to take a knee at the end of the game, the Bucs rushed the relaxed Giants hard. This was not illegal, but it caused a stir that the Bucs violated an unwritten rule of sportsmanship by rushing the quarterback knowing the team was taking a knee to end the game.

"I know what we do, and I feel very comfortable with it," Schiano said. "Now, the fact of the matter that it got called Sunday, I'm not sure you should be looking for that anymore because that would be downright stubborn."

Notes: The Bucs did not practice Monday but had to issue an injury report because they are playing Thursday. Thus, the report has linebacker Adam Hayward (ankle), receiver Vincent Jackson (calf), corner Brandon McDonald (ankle) and guard Carl Nicks (foot) as limited. Jeremy Zuttah (quad) was listed as full. Zuttah briefly left the game Sunday against the Saints but returned.

[ Rick Brown can be reached at rick.brown@theledger.com or 863-802-7569. Follow his blog at bucsscene.blogs.theledger.co or on Twitter: @LedgeronBucs]

<p>TAMPA | A pivotal penalty was correctly called against the Tampa Bay Bucs in the team's 35-28 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.</p><p>Early in the fourth quarter and leading 28-21, the Saints lined up for what would have been a 51-yard field goal. The entire Tampa Bay defensive front shifted right before the snap, and flags from the officials soon flew. The Bucs were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and assessed a 15-yard penalty. New Orleans eventually went on to score what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown on that drive.</p><p>Bucs coach Greg Schiano on Monday appeared unsure why the penalty was called.</p><p>"You can add me to the list," Schiano said when he was told fans did not know why the team was flagged. "Quite frankly, it's a legal play. We've done it before. We did it in the Washington game right before the half. One time, we went left to right, the other time we went right to left. I'm not quite sure."</p><p>Against Washington, the first game back for the regular officials, the Bucs were not penalized for the play.</p><p>NFL spokesman Jon Zimmer told the Tampa Bay Times it wasn't the shift that the team was penalized for.</p><p>"Tampa Bay was penalized yesterday for unsportsmanlike conduct for using disconcerting signals, defined as 'words designed to disconcert an offensive team at the snap,' in Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 of the NFL rule book," Zimmer told The Times.</p><p>Replays show middle linebacker Mason Foster's head move as if he was yelling something and the Bucs shifted immediately after the command.</p><p>This isn't the first time the first-year NFL coach has attempted a play that caused some controversy.</p><p>In Week 2, as the New York Giants were lining up to take a knee at the end of the game, the Bucs rushed the relaxed Giants hard. This was not illegal, but it caused a stir that the Bucs violated an unwritten rule of sportsmanship by rushing the quarterback knowing the team was taking a knee to end the game.</p><p>"I know what we do, and I feel very comfortable with it," Schiano said. "Now, the fact of the matter that it got called Sunday, I'm not sure you should be looking for that anymore because that would be downright stubborn."</p><p>Notes: The Bucs did not practice Monday but had to issue an injury report because they are playing Thursday. Thus, the report has linebacker Adam Hayward (ankle), receiver Vincent Jackson (calf), corner Brandon McDonald (ankle) and guard Carl Nicks (foot) as limited. Jeremy Zuttah (quad) was listed as full. Zuttah briefly left the game Sunday against the Saints but returned.</p><p>[ Rick Brown can be reached at rick.brown@theledger.com or 863-802-7569. Follow his blog at bucsscene.blogs.theledger.co or on Twitter: @LedgeronBucs]</p>